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Jewish Christians (sometimes called also '''"Hebrew Christians"''' or '''"Christian Jews"''') is a term which can have two meanings, an historical one and a contemporary one. Both meanings are discussed below. JEWISH ORIGIN OF CHRISTIANITY The term "Early Jewish Christians" is often used in discussing the proselyte who participated in a Jewish synagogue. The major division prior to that time was between Hellenistic and non-Hellenistic Jews or Koine Greek () and Aramaic () speakers. The conversion and acceptance of the Gentile Cornelius can be described in terms of the Judaic teaching which describes strangers becoming part of the community (). Acts does not use the term "Jewish Christians", rather those led by James The Just , Simon Peter , and John The Apostle , the Pillars Of The Church , were called followers of "The Way"., , , , see also Didache#The Two Ways Later groups, or perhaps the same group by different names, were the Ebionites and Elkasites . The " Christian " appellation was first applied to the followers after Paul Of Tarsus started preaching at Antioch (). Paul made explicit the division between those who were Circumcised and those who were not circumcised in his Epistle To The Galatians 2:7-9: :"On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the '''gospel for the circumcised''' (for he who worked through Peter making him an '''apostle to the circumcised''' also worked through me in sending me to the '''Gentiles'''), and when James and Cephas and John, who were acknowledged pillars, recognized the grace that had been given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that we should go to the '''Gentiles''' and they to the '''circumcised'''." ( NRSV ) These terms (circumcised/uncircumcised) are generally interpreted to mean Jews and Greeks , who were predominant; however they are an oversimplification as 1st century Iudaea Province also had some Jews who no longer circumcised (sometimes called Hellenized Jews), and some Greeks (called Proselytes or Judaizers) and others such as Egyptians, Ethiopians, and Arabs who did. See also Abrahamic Religion . Jesus is frequently called the "Nazarene" (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; . Named after him, the followers of Paul are the Nazarenes (, Jerome, ''Commentary on Isaiah'' 9:1). The every Sabbath day", the implication being that they are based on the Law Of Moses , some consider them to be the Noahide Laws . Also unclear is whether this meant that this Law in some way applied to them or merely that the requirements were imposed to facilitate common participation in the Christian community by Gentiles who would be in constant relation with the Jewish Christians who would be constantly reminded of their obligation to follow the Law. See also Old Testament#Christian View Of The Law and Expounding Of The Law . The early Jewish Christians included those who believed non-Jews must become Jews and adopt . in turn rejected Marcion and praised the Twelve Apostles in his '' Against Heresies '' 3.12.12: {Link without Title} :"...being brought over to the doctrine of Simon Magus , they have apostatized in their opinions from Him who is God, and imagined that they have themselves discovered more than the apostles, by finding out another god; and that the apostles preached the Gospel still somewhat under the influence of Jewish opinions, but that they themselves are purer [in doctrine , and more intelligent, than the apostles." According to were "of the circumcision". The Romans destroyed the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem in year 135 during the Bar Kokhba Revolt . However, that doesn't necessarily mean an end to Jewish Christianity, any more than Valerian's Massacre of 258, (when he killed all Christian bishops, presbyters, and deacons, including Pope Sixtus II and Antipope Novatian and Cyprian Of Carthage ), meant an end to Roman Christianity. CIRCUMCISION CONTROVERSY See Also: Circumcision in the Bible A common interpretation of the circumcision controversy of the and Bet Shammai were occurring about the time of his maturity." This controversy was fought largely between opposing groups of Christians who were themselves ethnically Jewish. According to this interpretation, those who felt that conversion to Judaism was a prerequisite for Church membership were eventually condemned by Paul as " Judaizing Teachers ". The source of this interpretation is unknown; however, it appears related to Supersessionism or Hyperdispensationalism (see also New Perspective On Paul ). In addition, modern Christians, such as Ethiopian Orthodox and Coptic Orthodox still practice circumcision while not considering it a part of conversion to Judaism, nor do they consider themselves to be Jews or Jewish Christians. In 1st century Pharisaic Judaism there was controversy over the significance of circumcision, for example between Hillel The Elder and Shammai (see also Circumcision In The Bible #In Rabbinic Literature ). Roman Catholicism condemned circumcision for its members in 1442, at the Council Of Florence {Link without Title} . SURVIVING COMMUNITIES WHOSE ORIGINS REFLECT BOTH JUDAISM AND EARLY CHRISTIANITY The Nasrani or Syrian Malabar Nasrani community in Kerala , India is conscious of their partly Jewish origins. However, they have lost many of their Jewish traditions due to western influences. The Nasrani are also known as Syrian Christians or St. Thomas Christians . This is because they follow the traditions of Syriac Christianity and claim descent from the early converts by St. Thomas The Apostle . Today, they belong to various denominations of Christianity but they have kept their unique identity within each of these denominations. (Refer to St. Thomas Christians ). The Knanaya , who are an endogamous sub-ethnic group among the Syrian Malabar Nasrani claim to be the descendants of early Jewish Christian settlers. Although affiliated with a variety of Roman Catholic, Oriental Orthodox, and Pentecostal denominations, they have remained a cohesive community, shunning intermarriage with outsiders (but not with fellow-Knanaya of other denominations). As do the Fallasha of Ethiopia reflect a Hebrew tradition that was outside the influence of much of the conflicts and conquests of the Hebrews of Israel and Judea. CONTEMPORARY JEWISH CHRISTIANS "Jewish Christians" is sometimes used as a contemporary term in respect of persons who are ethnically Jewish but who have become part of a "mainstream" Christian group which is not predominantly based on an appeal to Jewish ethnicity or the Law Of Moses . This term is used as a contrast to Messianic Jews , many of whom are ethnic Jews who have converted to a religion in which Christian belief (often of a very Evangelical nature) is generally engrafted onto Jewish ritual which would, to outsiders at least, typically resemble Judaism more than Christianity. The term could thus be used, for example, of ". MODERN JEWISH CHRISTIANS AND MESSIANIC JEWS There are important similarities and differences between "Jewish Christians" (or "Hebrew Christians") and " Messianic Jews ". Jewish Christians identify themselves primarily as Christian s. They are (mostly) members of Protestant and Catholic congregations, (usually) are not so strict about observing Kashrut (Jewish dietary laws) or the Sabbath, and are (generally) assimilated culturally into the Christian mainstream, although they retain a strong sense of their Jewish identity which they, like Messianic Jews, strongly desire to pass on to their children. In Israel, there is a growing population of Orthodox Christians who are of Jewish descent and conduct their worship mostly in Hebrew (the most prominent language in Israel, as well as the official language). Messianic Jews consider their primary identity to be "Jewish" and belief in Jesus to be the logical conclusion of their "Jewishness". They try to structure their worship according to Jewish norms, they circumcise their sons and (mostly) abstain from non-kosher foods, and (often) observe the Sabbath. Many (but by no means all) do not use the label "Christian" to describe themselves. The boundary between the two movements is blurred, but the differences between the two movements are such that it may not be fair to treat them as one (cf. Baptist s and Methodists , for example). There are a few organizations which have been established to support Jews who wish to become Christian, most notably Jews For Jesus . REFERENCES SEE ALSO
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